Donating Hair to a Cancer Patient

A few months ago, my friend Sarah visited and mentioned how she was growing her hair out to donate it so it could be made into a wig for a cancer patient. Hmm, I thought, that’s a good idea!

I’ve rarely cut mine since I got sick three years ago. It got REALLY long, especially for someone like me with baby-fine hair. I had to braid it at night so I wouldn’t get tangled up in it. This week, I had it cut and I’m sending it off, like Sarah, to have it made into a wig-along with more hair from other people-for a cancer patient.

My hair, before the chop.

I looked around for a place to donate it in New Zealand, but the only place I found would BUY my hair from me, then, if I wanted, donate the money to a charity. That wasn’t what I was looking for at all. Plus, I’ve been told by several people, including my hair dresser, that wigs are provided for free for cancer patients in New Zealand and I wanted my hair to go to someone who would not have a wig otherwise.

Being an American expat, I knew there were programs in the States that would take my hair. Sarah sent hers to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program and I decided to do the same.

To do that, the hair you send needs to be at least eight inches long and no more than 5% grey. We got about 13 inches from the back of my head, but scraped along at 8 inches around the front.

We put it into four ponytails when cutting it, to get as much length as possible from each area. I’ve sent the ponytails off, still in their hair ties to Pantene. They will make it into a wig and provide it-completely free-to a cancer patient.

My baby-fine ponytails, cut for donation.

There is another program in the States I looked at called Locks of Love. I decided against them for a few reasons. First, they require a minimum of 10 inches, instead of eight and I didn’t want to have to grow out the hair on the side of my head another two inches before I cut it. Also, they don’t provide their wigs free of charge to everyone like Pantene does. But MOST of all, I found that they made $1.9 million dollars from 2000-2006 selling donated hair according to their tax returns. I want to give my hair to be used for a specific purpose and that isn’t for it to be sold.

Locks of Love also require two letters of recommendation in the application for a wig. Letters of recommendation to say why a kid deserves hair? Really?

In any case, to donate your hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, wash it and don’t use any styling products. Put it in a ponytail (or more than one, like I did) and have your hairdresser cut it off ABOVE the ponytail holder. Mail the dry ponytail/s inside a zipper-lock bag to Pantene. EASY!

The wigs made from donations to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program are distributed free by the American Cancer Society to women who have cancer.

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A very precious gift from you to that cancer patient. Most of the cancer patience give up their hope of living and start counting for the last day. This kind of gift can give another ray of hope as it will work as a huge mental support. Humanity is still alive.

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hi,
three people from my company are shaving their heads to support and raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand — two male and one female.
the female has head full of thick hair to approximately 18 cms.
they are all keen to get the hair used productively

would you know of anyone, who accepts hair in Donation.
we have tried reaching Pantene, only to be told the programme is over.
Also tried reaching Wig by Hair Creation in auckland and Freedom Hair Wig in duniden.

the lady uses Henna to colour her hair.
is there anyways you can guide us, please

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Sophie McInnes
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August 20, 2012

Yes, I’d like to know! I actually had my own hair cut & saved during cancer treatment just in case, and when it turned out I didn’t need it no one could say where to send it. It’s now very long again, and I’d be happy to let someone else have the lot (though they might not fancy the split ends..)

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Love the new ‘do! So cute. I donated my hair a couple years ago, and seem to be in growth mode (can’t afford my wonderful but expensive hairdresser at the moment!), so maybe I’ll grow it out again to donate. Good on you.

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Lisa Marie
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July 31, 2012

Oh! Freedom wigs is the only wig company I know of in NZ sorry. I just ended up ordering mine internationally or from trademe. I don’t know much about donating for wigs, only trying to get a wig. And that is an ordeal in itself!

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Frugal Kiwi
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July 31, 2012

Lisa Marie, Freedom Wigs are the people I mention in the article that will BUY your hair and then donate the money to a charity if you wish. Not what I was looking for, but might suit others, I suppose.

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Sheryl
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July 31, 2012

You have done a wonderful thing, Melanie. As someone who went through chemo years ago, I can tell you that the loss of one’s hair is one of the most traumatic things a person goes through. You have made so many people happy without even knowing them :)PS. Love your new look!!

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Lisa Marie
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July 30, 2012

It is great to see people wanting to donate hair. But why is it always for cancer? There are other conditions that cause hair loss other than chemo. And I know they aren’t as life threatening as cancer but they are awful too. I have Alopecia Areata and when I started looking at wigs I found a place called Look Good Feel Better which help with showing you how to use wigs and make up to make you feel better. If you have cancer. Also, wigs aren’t free. You can apply for a wig and hairpiece subsidy. If it is permanent you get $2333 worth or wigs to last 9 years. If it’s temporary loss I think you get about $400 a year. A decent wig can cost $4000+ whether or not the hair was donated or bought.

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pen4hire
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July 30, 2012

Good for you. Since I’ve been very short-haired for a long, long time, I can’t participate, (and besides I’m gray now) but its a great program. Interesting to learn that about Locks of Love. I had no idea it wasn’t a straight charity.

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it looks great! I’m sorry I tried to find the one I sent mine to but it seems to no longer exist or I certainly couldn’t find it. I remember at the time it was a search and a half to find one here. Well done, you!

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Madeleine NZ Ecochick
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July 30, 2012

Wow Mel good for you!! I love your new hair cut. I was going to do this years ago but you’re right I couldn’t find anyone in NZ to take my hair so sadly int he bin it went 🙁 So glad if I decide to do this again I know where to send it. I’m very proud of you M xx

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Madeleine NZ Ecochick My hairdresser took down the Pantene details as she occasionally has people ask where they can donate their long hair and she didn’t have anywhere to tell them. If your hairdresser doesn’t know and you can’t find anything on the internet, it is hard to know where else to look!